This collection includes advertising items from political campaigns, including a hat, buttons, a stuffed plush talking donkey, a cocktail glass with logo, cigarettes and a cigarette carrying case, a pen, medallions, and photograph of Franklin Delano Roosevelt ranging from 1935-1996 regarding political campaigns and historical events.

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Biographical or Historical Data:

Billy "Billie" Dean Caudell was born Nov. 25, 1921 to Maurice Cecil and Ethel M. Whelchel Caudell in Fortville, Indiana. He had four siblings, including two sisters; Virginia and Nyda June and two brothers; Jack D. and David. He married Mary Lois Snider on Mar. 21, 1942 and they had four daughters: Sharon L., Deanna J., Marcia R. and Carmen Marie "Candy" and two sons; Franklin Delano and Jerome D. "Jay". Billy worked as a warehouse manager at Fort Benjamin Harrison during World War II. Following that he was an engineer for the Indiana Department of Transportation for 12 years, an assistant office manager at the DuPont plant in Fortville for 16 years and Postmaster of the Fortville branch of the U.S. Post Office for 19 years, from which position he retired in 1987. He was the Democratic precinct committeeman for the Town of Fortville for over 50 years. He also served as past grandmaster of the Fortville Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to which organization he belonged for more than 50 years. He held found the Fortville Little League Association in 1953 and served as coach for 15 years. He was also instrumental in forming Landmark Park in Fortville.Billy died June 30, 2003; Mary died in 2013, and they are buried in Gravel Lawn Cemetery in Madison County, Indiana.Sources:"Caudell, Billie D.". 1940 United States Federal Census. Retrieved 2016/05/23. http://search.ancestrylibrary.com"Caudell, Billy D.". Find a Grave Memorial. Retrieved 2016/05/23. http://www.findagrave.coms"Caudell, Billy D.". Greenfield (IN) Daily Reporter 2 July 2003. Print."Caudell, Billy Dean". U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. Retrieved 2016/05/23. http://search.ancestrylibrary.com

Ownership and Custodial History:

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Marcia R. Caudell on 2013/06/04.